Vandalism causes court office ceiling to collapse; no injuries

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In Willows, a Court office in Willows was damaged overnight by water from toilets and sinks broken by vandals in floors above. Alan Heacock with Cleanrite Buildrite assesses damage today as debris is piled on a tarp below a crumbled ceiling. (

WILLOWS — One of the largest acts of vandalism in Glenn County history was discovered about 8 a.m. today when an employee at an office run by the courts arrived to find a collapsed ceiling, drenched computers and standing water.

A Willows police investigation found plumbing fixtures smashed and still gushing water on the second and third floors of the building at 119 N. Butte St.

The weight of the water eventually collapsed a false ceiling for the first floor office, occupied by the Self-Help Assistance and Referral Program (SHARP) operated by the Glenn County courts.

No one was in the building at the time, and no injuries were reported.

According to its website, SHARP assists residents with resources on legal matters, including foreclosure.

“They weren’t the object of the vandalism, but they unfortunately took most of the damage,” said Sgt. Jason Dahl.

A Masonic Lodge on the upper floors of the building, recently remodeled, appeared to be the target, Dahl said.

In addition to structure damage, Dahl said fixtures and several pieces of electronic equipment in the SHARP office were destroyed or heavily damaged.

The office is also the Butte Street annex for the courthouse, and numerous records are stored there.

The initial loss throughout the building was conservatively figured at $100,000, Dahl said.

Dahl said vandals also sprayed the interior of the two upper floors with fire extinguishers. Beyond that, extensive graffiti in black spray paint was found on the upper floors, some of it unintelligible letters and symbols, but also initials, profanities and first and last names.

He said the taggings may lead to suspects in the case, but none had been identified Thursday.

Because the lower floor of the building is leased by the state, Dahl said the California Department of Justice was called in to assist with an investigation.

The SHARP office could be closed for several weeks. Contractors were in the building throughout today, pulling out debris and trying to dry out the floor and walls.